Here's the next chapter, right on time.

I do not own the Outsiders.


Andromeda paced back and forth in her room. Feelings of anxiety, stress, and guilt stuck in her mind and blocked out every other thought.

She knew she should have told her friends about Persephone, but she'd never managed to do it. There had always been some excuse, some 'reason' why she shouldn't tell the what had happened.

And then that happened.

She stopped pacing and wrapped her arms around herself as she glanced at the door. A large part of herself wanted to go and explained what happened, tell them everything they should have been told. But the other part feared the repercussions of walking out, of continued silence, and that part was louder. She was still hesitating, unable to commit to either path, when her Aunt Marge walked in slightly breathless from waking. The older woman smiled as she said, "There you are. I thought you'd be here."

Andromeda glanced away, unable to smile back at her aunt.

Aunt Marge sat down and sighed before she said, "I'm sorry. I was enjoying myself so much that I forgot you wouldn't be the only one in those pictures. I should have seen the ones I was flipping passed and realized what would happen, but I didn't." After a moment of hesitation, Andromeda replied, "You don't need to apologize." She turned towards her aunt, a worn smile on her as she admitted, "I should have told them months ago. If I had done that, this would never have happened, I'd be over there having fun instead of in here feeling guilty about the whole situation." Her aunt nodded as she said, "That is true, but what will you do about it?"

Andromeda's hands clenched, and she replied, "I have to tell them of course. I should head right over to clear things up." A bitter laugh slipped out, "Yet here I am dithering around, worrying about how angry they'll be."

"They're not angry." her aunt explained, "Just confused and a bit betrayed." Andromeda winced. She could deal with anger, but betrayal? That wasn't as easy to deal with. Regardless, she walked out and headed towards the Curtis house. The walk seemed longer than usual, and she could swear she was being stared at, but when she looked around, she saw only a handful of Socials milling about.

She shook her head, and continued on her way until she stood in front of the Curtis house. She hesitated for a minute. Her nerves had her insides tied into knots, but she didn't stand still long.

The doorknob creaked as she turned it, and she could immediately feel all eyes on her as she stepped in the door.

She sucked in a deep breath and raised her head to look at the gang. It was tempting to start with an apology, it was her nature after all, but she that wasn't what they'd want from her.

Instead she started, "The girl in the photograph is Persephone Campbell. She's ... she's my twin sister."

The gang was uncharacteristically quiet. They seemed to be waiting for her to finish, so she continued, "She, um, she died about ten years ago." Once the words were out, she waited for their response with anxious anticipation. The gang exchanged glanced before Darry asked, "I'm sorry for your loss, but why not tell us earlier? Why keep everything about your sister in the dark?" Andromeda swallowed before she replied, "If I had to pinpoint a reason, it would have to be because of fear." She swallowed, then continued, "When I tried to talk to my parents or most of my family, they'd rebuke me for it, tell me I shouldn't talk about Persephone. Any friend, any other adult I confided in would ... just be cut out of my life. Eventually I got used to having shallow friends who didn't really care to ask about my life, and called that good. At least it was something right?"

A bitter chuckle slipped out as she continued, "So I just ... I didn't want to ... " she hesitated at that point, unsure of what to say.

At that point, Soda huffed and said, "How is it that every time someone brings up your parents, they seem even worse than before."

Andromeda shrugged as she admitted, "There's more to it, but those parts are more difficult to talk about." The gang exchanged glances before Darry finally said, "Alright, we understand." Breath rushed out of Andromeda as she said, "Thank you."

Their expressions told her that everything wasn't fully better, but getting their forgiveness was enough for that moment.


this was a strange one, some parts were difficult to write, and others were easy. We'll be saying goodbye to Aunt Marge for a little while in the next chapter.